Though the American Dream has somewhat lost its luster, the number of people wishing to move to the United States is not decreasing, and the green card continues to be a cherished dream for many.

The Trump administration is serious about reducing legal immigration in the coming years. It is also planned to stop Green Card lottery. At the same time, the government is still very supportive of those who invest in the US economy. Therefore, wealthy people wishing to grow their business in the United States will find the option of obtaining investor visa more attractive. The benefits of this option include the applicant’s ability to bring his/her spouse and children to the United States as well.

These three visa programs are most popular among the investors: EB-5, L1 and E-2. In this article, we will highlight the conditions, advantages and disadvantages of each of the program.

The EB-5 visa as a direct way to get a green card
The EB-5 Visa Program was launched in 1990 when the Congress of the United States set an objective of stimulating the US economy, attracting private foreign capital, creating additional jobs. The government only opens about 10,000 EB-5 spots for applicants per year, while the actual number of applications is usually much higher.

Requirements to obtain the EB-5 visa
To qualify for the EB-5 visa https://migronis-citizenship.com/visa-eb-5-usa an applicant is required to invest $1million or $500,000 (depending on the region) in the development of a US company. The lower cost is available to those investors who decided to invest in companies located in high unemployment regions or in rural areas called Targeted Employment Areas.

The program provides the following options of participation:

- Creation of a new commercial enterprise.
- Investment in so-called regional centers in Targeted Employment Areas to attract investment in various projects.
- Expansion of the existing business by at least 140% with respective increase in the level of employment.
- Supporting the existing businesses in crisis (which have lost 20% of capital over the past few years).
- At the same time the investment schemes that guarantee the return of funds, such as lending to the existing businesses, are not allowed. Investments should be subject to risks.

Investments in regional centers are not so profitable, but in a way more reliable since these companies meet the conditions of the program without fail. An investor does not need to actively participate in asset management. Therefore, this option is often chosen by those who are interested primarily in moving to the United States.

Applicants are eligible to participate in the program if their capital exceeds $1 million or an annual income over the past two years is at least $200,000. There is an alternative requirement according to which the annual amount of joint income of the spouses should not be less than $300,000. According to the program conditions, the investor must create at least 10 full-time jobs for US citizens. At the same time, their salary should not be lower than the industry average. It is also important that the capital allocated for investment was fully legal; the income sources are subject to rigorous due diligence check. Supporting documents may include certificates on the sale of real estate or business, gift or inheritance certificates, data on profits from commercial activities.

For the first two years, the permanent residence is granted. This status is removed if the enterprise still meets program requirements, namely the required 10 jobs are maintained. The same status (first, conditional and then permanent) shall be granted to investor’s spouse and children younger than 21.

Advantages of EB-5 visa:

- Possibility to get a green card and the right of legal stay and free travel within in the USA.
- Together with the investor, a green card can also be granted to a spouse and children under 21 years of age. They are entitled to stay in the country, and have the right to employment and education.
- After two years you can be granted the permanent residence, and after another three years, you can apply for the US citizenship. This is relevant both for the investor himself and for his family members.
- Applicants from all countries are eligible, there are no requirements concerning work experience, education, age, knowledge of the English language or position in the company.
- There are no restrictions to the duration of the status.
- You can choose any industry and any region of the United States for investment.

The disadvantages of the EB-5 visa include:

- A fairly large amount of minimum investment.
- Low profitability of investments through the regional center. Although regional centers should be approved for participation in the program, this does not guarantee that the investment will bring income.
- The need to prove the legality of the source of investment funds.
- Rather strict requirements to physical stay in the US: not less than 6 months a year. If you plan to travel frequently abroad, you should get a special Reentry Permit.
- Relatively long processing time. Normally, it takes about a year to get a visa.

Important note: since 2016, the adjustment of the conditions for this type of visa has been discussed. It is proposed to increase the cost of participation in the program from $500,000 to $800,000 and from $1 million to $1.2 million, respectively. However, so far it has been decided to keep the terms of the program unchanged until December 2018.

The L1 Visa to the USA: cost, requirements, advantages
The L1 visa is granted to senior managers and top-level specialists of foreign companies, who are relocated to work in a company’s US office. This type of visa allows an applicant together with his spouse and children under 21 years of age to reside in the United States. The spouse and children are granted an L2 visa.

To apply for this type of visa it is required:

- To establish a subsidiary or branch office in the United States. There is also an option of buying an existing US company. It is important that in both cases a branch or a US company were owned by either a foreign company or by a shareholder of that company.
- To prove that the company is actually operating in the United States. You need to open a special account for branch office’s settlements. There should be at least $40,000-50,000 on the account. Furthermore, you need to rent an office. The proofs should be provided both for the account and for the office. Such proofs may include certificates, extracts or contracts which should be enclosed to the application documents.
- To hire at least 3 employees in a US branch office during the first year of work.
- To have at least 1-year management experience or experience as a qualified specialist. An applicant is required to have working experience that he/she obtained in the same company that sends him/her to the company’s US office.
- There should be an account turnover between the head office and the branch office. It is also advisable to be able to demonstrate the turnover and profits of the parent company based abroad to prove that it can support the work of the branch office, especially if it is newly established.

Duration of application process and prospects of L1 visa

The application process normally takes several months. Initially, the status is granted for 1 year to managers and specialized knowledge workers of branch offices of foreign companies that were established recently, and for 3 years in case an already existing and operating US business was acquired. Subsequently, the visa can be renewed every 2 years. In the case of specialized knowledge workers, the L1 visa is issued for a total period of up to 5 years. For managers this term is increased to 7 years. After that you need to work for at least 1 year outside the US, and then you can again apply for this visa. However, after 1 year of successful operation of the company, the management can apply for the grant of an EB-1 visa to the employee (top level management) which is immigration visa and leads to getting a green card.

To renew the visa after the first year, it is important to demonstrate the results of the manager’s work. It is easier in the case of a new business. On the one hand, if you buy an existing company, you can get the status for 2-3 years. However, it must be noted that such a business should have been a successfully operating one and have a clean financial history. Therefore, such purchase may be risky and require gathering support of a good financial expert to check all the details before acquiring the company.

The advantages of the L1 visa include its lower cost compared to the EB-5 program, as well as the prospect of applying for a green card after one-year of work. This is a business visa, so there is no need to prove that you don’t have intentions to immigrate. The applicant’s children can study in the US schools and universities, and the wife/husband has the right to work. This visa can be obtained at once by several employees of a foreign company, if they occupy sufficiently high positions.

The disadvantages include the requirement to have at least one-year work experience and being able to prove it. A foreign company must have been operating for at least one year, and only after that it may open a branch office in the United States and a visa application may be filed. Furthermore, it is rather difficult to foresee the actual amount of expenses. Though at the time of filing an application there should be at least $40,000-50,000 on the account of a branch office, the rental of the office and paying service fees to the staff may result in heavier expenses even for the first year of operation. In addition, with this option it is important to show the results of the work, so you need to pay enough attention to real business management.

The E-2 Investor Visa: important details
The E-2 visa is an investor visa which is issued to foreign individuals wishing to grow their business in the United States. However, the applicants may be eligible for the program only if they come from the states which concluded a respective treaty with the United States. Such countries do not include China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Dubai, etc. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and the Baltic States are on the list of countries signed the treaty with the US. Being a citizen of one of these countries allows you to apply for an E-2 business visa.

What are the options for the investors from China, Russia and other countries which did not sign the treaty with the US? The best option is to obtain the second citizenship of Grenada first. This is the only Caribbean country offering a second passport for purchase which allows applying for an E-2 visa in the United States.

There are no specific requirements to the amount of investments. It is only mentioned that the investments should be “substantial” and the threshold of minimum investment is approximately $50,000. These should be the funds commensurate with the purchase of a new or existing business, and sufficient for its development. The amount also depends on the industry in which the future company operates.

Advantages of a US E-2 visa
- Low investment amount for starting a business. It will be enough to invest in maintenance of the company’s operations and get a minimum profit. This amount of investment isn’t as big as it is required for the EB-5 visa https://migronis-citizenship.com/visa-eb-5-usa.
- There is no specific quota for the number of jobs the company must create. However, hiring only members of the investor’s family is not allowed.
- Short application process which takes about a month.
- Along with the investor, the visa is granted to his/her spouse and children under the age of 21. Children will have the right to study in the United States, and the spouse will be eligible for obtaining a work permit.
- Relatively loyal conditions: due diligence check of the sources of funds, business plan and other data is not as rigorous as when applying for an EB-5 visa.
- There are no requirements to reside in the United States. However, you need to reside in the country some time necessary for management the company.

Still, apart from the already mentioned restrictions on the countries, the program has some other disadvantages. They include:

- Time limitation and the need for renewal. The visa is issued for 2 years, and then it may be renewed every 2 years for an unlimited number of times, but only as long as an investment business project is operating.
- This visa doesn’t convert in green card. This is a non-immigrant visa.
- An applicant has to devote his actual attention to business management since for the renewal of the visa the company should function successfully and bring profit.

[b]In conclusion
[/b]The main advantage of EB-5, L1 and E-2 programs is the possibility for the investors to get a visa not only for themselves but also for their family members. This gives their children access to US education, and the whole family will be able to benefit from the US healthcare and other positive aspects of the American way of life.

In terms of immigration, the EB-5 program is the most attractive. It allows you first to get a conditional, and then a permanent resident status. However, the costs involved in applying for this program are quite high. At the same time, there is an option of investing in regional centers, which means that the investor does not need to monitor compliance with all program conditions, and in many cases, such income may become passive. The L1 and E-2 programs call for active participation in the company’s activities; however, the level of required investments for programs is much lower. The holder of the E-2 visa, who has achieved a certain success in business, may apply for an EB-5 visa. The L-1 visa gives you the right to apply for a permanent residence in the USA just one year later.